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Rico Gafford

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Rico Gafford
No. 38, 10
Position:Wide receiver
Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1996-05-23) May 23, 1996 (age 28)
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, Iowa)
College:
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:2
Receiving yards:66
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Stats at CFL.ca

Marrico Gafford (born May 23, 1996) is an American former professional football wide receiver and cornerback. He played college football at Wyoming.

Early life

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Gafford was born and grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. He originally attended East High School, where he played football and ran track and was named All-State at cornerback by The Des Moines Register. He transferred to Dowling Catholic High School going into his senior year and was again named All-State. He also competed in the Iowa High School Athletic Association track and field state championships, where he set the state's 100-meter dash record at 10.61 seconds and also won the Class 4A 200 meter dash title.[1]

College career

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Gafford began his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College, where he played two seasons and totaled 77 tackles, five interceptions, and three fumble recoveries before committing to play at Wyoming for his final two seasons of college eligibility over offers from Troy and Ohio.[2] In total, he accumulated 103 total tackles, six interceptions, 17 passes defended, three forced fumbles, and 1.5 tackles for loss over the course of his two seasons with the Cowboys. In his senior season, Gafford made 43 total tackles, a forced fumble, and a tackle for a loss with four interceptions and six pass deflections and was named second-team All-Mountain West Conference. His performance also earned him an invitation to participate in the 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.[3]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+5⁄8 in
(1.77 m) 		184 lb
(83 kg) 		29+3⁄4 in
(0.76 m) 		8+1⁄2 in
(0.22 m)		 4.22 s 1.49 s 2.47 s 4.46 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)		 10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)		 10 reps
All values from Wyoming Pro Day[4]

Tennessee Titans

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Gafford signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018.[5] He was cut by the team at the end of training camp on September 1, 2018.[6]

Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders

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Gafford was signed to the Oakland Raiders practice squad on September 3, 2018.[7] While on the practice squad, the Raiders changed Gafford's primary position to wide receiver, in addition to his original cornerback position, due to his speed.[8] He was promoted to the Raiders' active roster on December 18, 2018.[9] Gafford made his NFL debut on December 24, 2018, in a 27-14 win against the Denver Broncos, playing on special teams.[10]

On August 31, 2019, Gafford was waived by the Raiders during final roster cuts but was re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[11][12] He was promoted to the active roster on November 27, 2019.[13] Gafford caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr for his first career reception on December 8, 2019, against the Tennessee Titans.[14] He finished the 2019 season with two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in four games played.[15]

On November 7, 2020, Gafford was waived by the Raiders and re-signed to the practice squad three days later.[16][17]

Arizona Cardinals

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Gafford signed a reserve/futures contract with the Arizona Cardinals on January 6, 2021.[18] He was waived on August 23, 2021.

Buffalo Bills

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On August 24, 2021, Gafford was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills.[19] He was waived on August 27.

Denver Broncos

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On September 14, 2021, Gafford was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad.[20]

Green Bay Packers

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On January 26, 2022, Gafford signed a reserve/future contract with the Green Bay Packers.[21] The Packers moved Gafford back to cornerback after the team drafted three wide receivers in the 2022 NFL draft.[22] He was waived on August 30, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[23][24] On September 2, he was released from the practice squad.[25]

Birmingham Stallions

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On December 13, 2022 Gafford signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL) and returned to being a wide receiver.[26] He was released on April 10, 2023.[27]

BC Lions

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On September 26, 2023, Gafford signed a practice roster agreement with the BC Lions.[28] He did not dress in a game with the Lions, but was re-signed for the following season on November 22, 2023.[29] He retired on March 25, 2024.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Holmgren, Ryan (December 16, 2015). "Two-star junior college cornerback Rico Gafford signs with Wyoming". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "Two-star junior college cornerback Rico Gafford signs with Wyoming". Billings Gazette. December 17, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  3. ^ Foster, Brandon (January 19, 2018). "Former Wyoming cornerback Rico Gafford to play in Saturday's NFLPA Collegiate Bowl". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  4. ^ "Rico Gafford, DS #48 CB, Wyoming". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Foster, Brandon (April 28, 2018). "Former Wyoming CB Gafford signs with Titans as undrafted free agent". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  6. ^ Morris, Jimmy (September 1, 2018). "Titans cuts tracker 2018: Saturday's news and rumors on roster cut weekend". MusicCityMiracles.com. SB Nation. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Mosher, Marcus (September 3, 2018). "Raiders fill practice squad, sign 3 players including OL Denver Kirkland". Raiders Wire. USA Today. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  8. ^ Schneidman, Matt (November 21, 2018). "How Raiders are preparing for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson". The Mercury News. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  9. ^ Damien, Levi (December 18, 2018). "Raiders send Gabe Jackson to injured reserve, call up two from practice squad". SilverAndBlackPride.com. SB Nation. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  10. ^ Bair, Scott (December 25, 2018). "Raiders Snap Count: Kolton Miller, Brandon Parker Quiet Broncos Edge Rush". NBCBayArea.com. KNTV. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  11. ^ "Raiders announce transactions - 8.31.19". Raiders.com. August 31, 2019.
  12. ^ Smith, Tyler J. (September 1, 2019). "Raiders sign three more familiar faces to practice squad". SilverAndBlackPride.com. SB Nation. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "Raiders promote Gafford". Raiders.com. November 27, 2019. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  14. ^ "Titans win 4th straight, 42-21 over Raiders". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 8, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  15. ^ "Raiders' Rico Gafford: Seven offensive snaps in finale". CBSSports.com. January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "Raiders activate Daniel Ross; waive Rico Gafford". Raiders.com. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  17. ^ "Rico Gafford: Sticking in Vegas". CBSSports.com. November 10, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  18. ^ "Cardinals' Rico Gafford: Secures future contract". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  19. ^ "Bills claim WR Rico Gafford and DT Joey Ivie". BuffaloBills.com. August 24, 2021.
  20. ^ DiLalla, Aric (September 14, 2021). "Broncos place CB Ronald Darby, WR Jerry Jeudy on IR". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  21. ^ "Packers sign WR Rico Gafford, CB Kiondre Thomas". Packers.com. January 26, 2022.
  22. ^ Hodkiewicz, Wes (July 30, 2022). "Dream-chasing Rico Gafford sees 'perfect opportunity' with Packers". Packers.com. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  23. ^ "Press release: Packers announce roster moves". packers.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  24. ^ "Packers sign S Rudy Ford". packers.com. August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  25. ^ "Packers sign S Micah Abernathy to practice squad". packers.com. September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  26. ^ @USFLStallions (December 13, 2022). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ @USFLStallions (April 10, 2023). "Released" (Tweet). Retrieved April 11, 2023 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "Lions Add Veteran DBs Motley & Gafford To Practice Squad". BC Lions. September 26, 2023.
  29. ^ "Lions Sign Seven, Including 'Stove' Richardson". BC Lions. November 22, 2023.
  30. ^ "Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings". CFL.ca. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
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